traumaofabuse

Jim Karol, aka Jimmy Da Brain, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy just before his 50th birthday. Through the power of positive thinking and a daily regimen of brain exercises, Jim was able to reverse his medical condition. Now almost 70, he leads a healthy life as a renowned mentalist, a performer and the author of the self-help book Ultimate Memory Magic. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show, Today and Ellen. Here's an episode of Bar Fights you'll never forget.

Comedians were put on this planet to make people laugh and to bring happiness to those who need it most. Jeffrey Gurian takes that concept to the next level. Besides being a comedy guru, Jeffrey is also a former cosmetic dentist, a stuttering specialist, and the author of inspirational books like Healing Your Heart By Changing Your Mind, Facing Adversity and Fight the Fear. On this episode of Bar Fights, Sarah lets Jeffrey take the wheel and school us all on overcoming self-sabotage and life's other mysterious obstacles.

It's time to take a bath in healing sound and divine energy. The Transformational Power of Sound and Music was written by Flicka Rahn, and on this episode of Bar Fights, Flicka explains how she uses her own compositions and training to bring tranquility to the soul. From indigenous tribal music and crystal singing bowls to the soothing frequency of 432Hz, Flicka Rahn can help you unblock your chi.

Miranda Pacchiana. personal coach and host of Truth & Consequences: Navigating the Aftermath of Trauma, calls it "the second wound" — the doubt, the disbelief and the shame a survivor encounters from their inner circle when they disclose that they have been sexually abused. On this episode of Bar Fights, Sarah and Miranda lament the challenges they both faced from loved ones and how it stifled the healing process.

On this episode of Bar Fights, Sarah goes a few rounds with a legitimate fighter — the one and only Gerry Cooney. Gerry's book, Gentleman Gerry: A Contender in the Ring, A Champion in Recovery, chronicles his career as a professional heavyweight boxer and a survivor of childhood abuse and alcoholism. He now has life cornered and helps others learn how to knock out their demons and the boogeyman he affectionately calls "The Itty-Bitty Shitty Committee."

"The people who love you can handle it." On this episode, Sarah tackles childhood trauma from a unique perspective — through the eyes and heart of a survivor's partner. After three years of marriage, Danielle Sebastian's husband revealed he was sexually abused as a child by the Catholic Church. What followed was an inspiring story of healing, self-care, unconditional love and the book that chronicles the journey — Resilient Wives: A Guide for Wives Supporting Their Husband Through Childhood Trauma Recovery

Molested by her biological father at the age of 12, Kristin Walker has built a life dedicated to guiding people from chaos to peace on their paths to personal healing. What started as her own podcast in 2009 has blossomed into the Mental Health News Radio Network, which houses 75 shows focused on talking openly about all types of mental health. On episode 25, Sarah and Kristen reflect on their similar journeys and the experiences that brought them both to the front line of advocacy.

On the first day of his senior year of high school, Marty Tankleff woke up to discover the bodies of his murdered parents. He was immediately declared the suspect, coerced into a false, unsigned confession, and spent 6,338 days behind bars before being exonerated in 2007. Marty details his deeply compelling story on this episode of Bar Fights and explains how he has turned his painful experience into a busy and heroic life of advocacy.

The latest episode of Bar Fights navigates the complex and challenging aspects of endometriosis and the brave women who fight it. From laparoscopic procedures and excision surgeries to the mysteries that lead to botched and delayed diagnoses, Sarah and Lj Johnson, founder of Endowarrior Academy, discuss everything you need to know about this stigmatized disease. Don't succumb to those 2 AM Google searches — let Lj Johnson get you on the path to healing and wholeness.

Episode 21 of Bar Fights is a sweet departure from the norm as Sarah welcomes her daughter for a cute conversation about her life as a 6 year old. It was the perfect way for Sarah to take a break from her hectic schedule. So sit back, relax and prepare to smile.

"I will no longer be known as a number; I will be known as Dr. Danielle Moore." The last time Sarah Klein saw this week's guest, she was presenting her victim impact statement at the 2018 sentencing of Larry Nassar and those were Danielle's final words at the podium. On this episode of Bar Fights, Sarah welcomes her sister survivor, now a doctor of clinical and forensic psychology, to discuss their journeys since that emotional day in Lansing, Michigan and the op-ed Danielle felt compelled to publish on its four-year anniversary.

In a world starving for love and compassion, Hannah Smith has emerged as an inspirational hero. On any given day, you can spot Hannah on a busy street corner, holding handmade signs and the vibrant messages that adorn them for her town's tense commuters. "It's ok to not be ok, just don't give up." Nothing but uplifting, positive reassurance coming from a teenager who was admitted to a psychiatric medical institute for children at the age of 7 and attempted suicide less than 5 years ago. Hear the amazing story of how Hannah turned her life around and chose love to be her guide.

"You can think of the brain as being an overprotective mother." But sometimes, your body just wants to be independent and experience new things. Dr. Dravon James is a motivational speaker, a radio host, a life coach, and the author of Freedom is Your Birthright, and she brings buckets of sunshine and pearls of wisdom to the latest episode of Bar Fights. It's not too late to refocus your resolution and Dravon is just the person to help you do it. She provides all the tools and tips to help you find the power to get your health, wealth and relationships on the right track and create your best year YET! Because brains don't always know best.

"If you’ve survived something, isn’t it kinda your duty to talk about it? What was the point of going through it just to keep it to yourself?” From the moment a stranger laid his towel on a Nantucket beach next to his, Hoyt Richards, at the ripe age of sixteen, found himself living a glitzy New York City lifestyle and being groomed by a mastermind cult leader. On Sarah’s first episode of 2022, she finds herself awestruck by Hoyt’s riveting story of how a doomsday cult robbed him of twenty valuable years, confined him from his own family and brainwashed him into funding the whole operation with the money from his budding modeling career. Tune in and prepare to be enthralled by Hoyt Richards

Just another Tuesday afternoon talking about sex! On this episode of Bar Fights, Sarah welcomes Rachel Maine, a sex therapist turned sex coach and the host of the popular podcast Owning Your Sexual Self. Rachel and Sarah chat about Rachel's early days as an intern on a crisis hotline and a survivors advocate, to her work with Pure Romance, a woman-owned, international company. The conversation also gets around to severe trauma and how it can deeply affect intimacy. Rachel shows survivors of sexual and domestic abuse how to take ownership of their bodies again and regain their power, comfort and safety in the bedroom

"There are few things in this world more dangerous than an angry and frightened mother." When the system failed Polly Franks, she took matters into her own hands and went after the man who sexually assaulted her two young daughters. This serial predator, who was dubbed the San Antonio Ski Mask Rapist, eluded conviction in Texas and then rebranded as the Bandana Bandit in Richmond, Virginia — right in Polly's neighborhood, just one block from the elementary school. Sarah and Polly talk about what it took to get the man behind 286 known attacks behind bars, Polly's riveting book Devil at My Door, and how she has taken to Capitol Hill to turn her family's horrific nightmare into positive change for survivors everywhere.

There aren't many stories as compelling and inspirational as the one of Aspen Matis. On her second night of college, she was raped by another freshman in her dorm and the college did nothing to protect her. Her perpetrator was found innocent and she was expected to go about her education with him living on the floor directly above her. Then, in an act of personal salvation, Aspen hiked the Pacific Coast Trail from Mexico to Canada. On this episode, Sarah and Aspen discuss the 2,650-mile, life-changing journey, Aspen's novels Girl in the Woods and Your Blue is Not My Blue, and 15 king size PayDay candy bars

"More often than not, the [victims'] rights are violated rather than afforded." Sarah Klein returns after a 2-week break for an informative conversation with Meg Garvin, a Law Professor at Lewis & Clark Law School and the Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes balance and fairness in the justice system through victim-centered advocacy, education and resource training. Together, they discuss the future Ask For Rights Campaign and the ongoing need to place victims of violent crimes in the forefront of the criminal justice system.

"You can't expect somebody to build a house if you don't have the tools in the toolbox." Rhett Hackett was sexually abused as a teenager by his neighbor and has paid his experience forward by dedicating his life to restoring the human race with values and compassion through education. He is the president/co-founder of the Humanity Preservation Foundation in Philadelphia and hosts Hands Off on RVN Television, a weekly show committed to the prevention of interpersonal violence. This episode of Bar Fights explores Rhett's journey from survivor to full-time advocate, the importance of early intervention and how going public on The Oprah Winfrey Show changed his life.

Darkness to Light, based in Charleston, SC, is the nation's leading advocate for the prevention of child sexual abuse and has trained 2 million people on how to recognize and react responsibly to this national pandemic. Katelyn Brewer is the organization's president and CEO...and an everyday superhero. On this episode of Bar Fights, Sarah and Katelyn discuss the difficult conversations parents must have with their children and how rethinking your standards on challenging authority could save your child's life.